But in a good way. Not like handcuffed in the back seat of a patrol car. Though I was in that hard plastic seat for about ten nauseating minutes, being spun around the driving pad at high speeds. But no handcuff, and it was kind of fun.

I signed up to partcipate in the Brevard County Sheriff's Office Citizen's Academy. In ten sessions over seven weeks, a group of us got to tour the various places where the sheriff's department does their thing. We started at the brain, the communication center. Next we headed to the range/work farm and got a live SWAT team and K-9 demonstration, got to tour the farm and hydroponics lab, talk to the dive team and take an airboat ride.

More fun as the weeks went on. We toured the jail (note to self: don't go to jail), visited the criminal investigative services and crime scene lab, learned about identity theft (another note to self: keep credit cards in RFID protected sleeves), prowled through the bomb squad truck, learned about search and rescue, participated in a faux car chase, saw an excellent motorcycle demonstration, found out I need to practice more before I can lift a Harley from a fall, learned about general crimes, and more.

This was a free class, "designed to give our citizens an inside look and working knowledge of every aspect of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. This is a chance for our citizens to get a behind the scenes look at what the 1,200 proud men and women of the Sheriff’s Office do on a daily basis." They do a lot! In addition to keeping us safe and getting the bad guys off the street, they offer free driver's training for teens, range practice and safety lessons for gun owners, a free home safety inspection, and other services. I came away with a new respect for law enforcement. This class also helped keep my mind from dark places during a difficult time, as I said goodbye to my mother.

They offer this class two or three times a year, and I'm encouraging anyone interested to attend.

A helicopter used for search and rescue

Call me impressed. The pilot landed this chopper on that small, flat trailer.

Lots of cool stuff inside, but I wasn't allowed to take pictures.

The SWAT team, ready for action. We're viewing from above.

These are the targets the SWAT team had to hit. They nailed them!

An airboat is useful around here because of all the swamp land.

Part of the farm, a hydroponic system made from rain gutters.

There is a law enforcement rodeo around these parts. I'd say this officer had a good chance to win. And yeah, he's cute!